under way

American  

adjective

1. Also (of a ship) no longer in port, at anchor, etc.; moving.

2. no longer at rest, stationary, etc.; in motion; traveling.

   We'll put our bags in the car and be under way.

3. proceeding; in progress.

   Plans are under way to sell the company.

---

under way British  

adjective

1. in progress; in operation

   the show was under way

2. nautical in motion

---

under way Idioms  

1. In motion, as in The ship got under way at noon . [c. 1930]

2. Already started, in progress, as in Plans are under way to expand . [c. 1930]

---

Example Sentences

Efforts to delay the arrival of screwworm in the US have been under way since cases began increasing in Central America and Mexico.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

The May employment report, due Friday, will offer more clues on whether a broad rebound in hiring is under way — or whether the labor market is just treading water.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

A search and rescue operation was under way at one of the apartment buildings where rescuers were still looking for six people, Zelensky said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country requested the UN Security Council meeting, said Sunday that "nothing justifies the major escalation under way in south Lebanon".

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

The quest for the bomb was now fully under way.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik